Chapter 3

It seems there is a novel where the protagonist's sister's name is revealed before the protagonist's.

After that, the official said that the enrollment procedures would be handled, so I only signed the document stating my intention to enroll in the military academy and returned home.

Of course, I thought it sounded too good to be true. So, I considered the possibility that some dangerous contract might have been made without my knowledge and carefully checked the document from corner to corner. But no matter how many times I looked, it only said, "I have the intention to enroll in the military academy," so I was relieved.

Also, I asked why we would receive a salary just for being enrolled.

The answer was that students who enter the military academy as mech pilots also serve as test pilots. Apparently, while the students get used to the machines, they also perform debugging processes and other tasks.

That's a respectable job. It makes sense that they would receive a salary.

There's a possibility that the place I'm going to is a military academy in name only, but an experimental facility in reality. However, it would be unacceptable for regular military personnel to deceive a child who wants to enlist and send them to such a place.

If that were the case... I'm not just a kid. It wouldn't end with just a scandal.

With that resolve in my heart, I returned to the 30-year-old apartment (2K layout, 40,000 yen rent, no guarantor required) that I moved to after my relatives sold our house.

"I'm home."

From now on, I will face the next challenge. That is, persuading my sister, Yuna.

"Welcome back. ...How was it?"

Basically, Yuna is against me enlisting in the military. Of course, from her perspective, I'm sacrificing my happiness to pay for her education by enlisting in the military.

If I were in her position, I would oppose it too.

But my decision to enlist in the military is because I judged that, at this point, we cannot live a normal life unless I do. So, this is not just for Yuna's sake, but for my own as well.

I planned to persuade her with that, but this time I decided to hold back. After all, there was a pleasant surprise!

"I passed the exam. I'm going to join the military next year."

"...Really?"

The highlight in Yuna's eyes disappeared! Wait, it's not time to panic yet.

"Yeah, but!"

Even though it's not time to panic, I don't want to make my sister sad, so I quickly decided to explain the pleasant surprise.

"But?"

Seeing me trying to continue the conversation with an unusually bright tone, Yuna probably thought, "Something's off." Her eyes regained their highlight and urged me to continue.

"I'm going to enroll in the military academy first, not directly as a soldier!"

"Military... academy?"

It seems Yuna doesn't know much about the military academy either. Well, that's understandable. I didn't know much about it either.

"To put it simply, it's a school to train military personnel. Graduates are treated as officers, not regular soldiers, and of course, they get a high school diploma. But that's not all! As a mech pilot, the experimental work counts as military service, so we get paid even while enrolled!"

"...Officers? So, you won't be used up on the front lines?"

"Yeah."

She was quite cautious about negative possibilities. I mean, even if you're a kid, you'd look into the military if your only family member said they were going to join.

And the result of that research would probably be that a middle school graduate with no connections would be used up on the front lines.

That's what would happen normally. I was prepared for that too. But it didn't happen. That's because I have a high affinity for magic crystals—apparently, a pretty high one.

"Eh?"

When I mentioned my affinity, Yuna's eyes widened in surprise. Yeah, I get it.

I never told her the results of my health checkups before. I mean, you don't usually tell someone unless there's something wrong, right? I've never seen Yuna's checkup results either. The most you'd hear from your parents is "nothing unusual."

Anyway, even though the research on artificial magic crystals has advanced, those who can operate a mech at a high level are still very rare, with only one in a thousand having the ability.

Even Yuna probably didn't think her real brother would be one in a thousand.

Actually, I didn't think my affinity was that high either. I was even more surprised than Yuna when the official told me the details!

Putting aside my feelings at that moment,

"Mechs are valuable, but pilots who can operate them are even more valuable. To prevent them from dying in vain, it's standard practice to send children with the affinity to the military academy to learn the minimum knowledge and survival skills."

"Wow..."

Yuna, who had always thought of me as an ordinary brother, still seemed to be in shock at the news that I was a one-in-a-thousand talent. It might be a bit unfair to continue the conversation like this, but I decided to go with the momentum.

"So, if I attend the military academy, I'll have to live in a dorm managed by the military. We'll have to move from this apartment to the dorm next year. Of course, Yuna will come with us."

"Eh? We're moving?"

"Yeah. There are various reasons, like confidentiality. So, you'll go to a different middle school than we originally planned."

"That means you'll go to a school near the new place, right?"

"Right. I feel bad about you having to leave your friends. But..."

For a kid her age, friends are the most important thing. Moreover, if she goes to a middle school managed by the military, she'll definitely start without any acquaintances. The other kids will already have connections within the military.

Even if Yuna is adorable, intelligent, sociable, has good grades, and is athletic, no, especially because she's perfect, I don't want her to be bullied... but there's a possibility she might be isolated.

What if that happens? I can endure anything, but I don't want Yuna to have to endure. But if we don't enlist, we can't even live. So, not moving isn't an option. But if Yuna ends up isolated because of this...

"No, that's fine, though."

The casual response moved me, who was about to be overwhelmed by a whirlpool of emotions.

"Really? It's fine?"

"Yeah, because..."

"Because?"

"Originally, when Dad and Mom died, I was prepared to move anyway."

"Ah, right. That's true."

Normally, we would have been taken in by distant relatives. If that happened, we would have had to transfer schools. So, it's not surprising that Yuna was prepared to transfer when our so-called relatives sold our house.

Actually, it was more unusual that I asked the executives at the company where our parents worked to find someone who could be our legal guardian for a fee, and to buy us time by quickly renting an apartment near our house after the funeral to throw the relatives off.

Of course, our current apartment is known to them, but since we already have a legal guardian, the so-called relatives have no reason to interfere. Still, I'm cautious in case they try something drastic, thinking we're just kids... but never mind that.

The important thing is that I'm enrolling in the military academy, and Yuna is prepared to enroll in a different middle school, knowing the possibility of being isolated. That's all that matters.

...If she does end up isolated and sad, I'll do something as her brother, but that's just a hypothetical. She might become popular in her class. Actually, that's more likely!

Yeah, I'll think about that. I'm worried, but I shouldn't worry too much.

After all, it's not good to interfere too much with a girl of her age, as even the Kojiki says.

"Alright! Then, I'll leave the moving preparations to you. I want to move right after you graduate from elementary school, so please get ready by then."

I want to move before the so-called relatives can interfere.

"Ah, right. Your middle school graduation ceremony is earlier, isn't it? Got it. I'll get ready."

"Thanks!"

Yes! The most important mission is a success!

--- Feeling good about how the future and Yuna's concerns were resolved, I decided to take her out for a meal that day for the first time in a while.

Of course, after ordering dessert, she reminded me, "I'm happy to go out to eat with you, but we need to be careful with our expenses."

Sis, you're too mature for a 12-year-old, aren't you?

Actually, isn't my sister a genius?

I seriously thought that on that December night.

By the way, the dessert was delicious.

Thank you for reading.